A simple method for fault detection of industrial digitial positioners

Abstract

A simple method for detecting stick-slip fault of industrial digital positioners (control valves) in control systems is presented. Only the valve travel setting signal and the actual valve travel signal are required. These two signals are available in most industrial processes, such as DCS. Therefore, the proposed method can be applicable to a large number of digital positioners with digital positioner. Meanwhile, the knowledge of the plant and the digital positioners are not necessary. Real world data sets sampled from a power plant were used to test its efficiency.